Post-hole auger



(No Model.)

J. HAGA NS.

POST HOLE AUGER.

Patented Sept. 29, 1885.

Nrrn STATES FFEQEG JAMES HAGANS, OF MAXWVELL, INDIANA.

POST-HOLE AUGER.

ZPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,976, dated September 29, 1885.

Application filed November 13, 1884.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, J turns HAGANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maxwell, in the county of Hancock and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improve ment in Post-Hole Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved machine for boring post-holes.

The object of my improvement is to mount an earth-auger in a suitable portable frame, so that it may be placed and sustained in a vertical position over the place where a posthole is desired, may be turned by means of a crank turning in a vertical plane, and may furnish a gage showing at any time the depth to which the hole is bored.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my machine; Fig. 2, a section at a, c, Fig. 1.

A is a wooden frame having the central upper and lower cross-timbers, b and c, the lower timber, 0, being about two feet above the base.

d is a hollow vertical shaft journaled at the opposite ends, so as to turn in bearings formed in or secured to the timbers b and c.

e is a bevel gear-wheel secured to shaft d,-f, a corresponding gear-wheel secured to a horizontal shaft, 9, and intermeshing with wheel 6. Said shaftg turns in a bearing, B, secured to the frame, and is turned by means of a crank, h, secured thereto.

dis a vertical shaft adapted to slide Vertically in shaft (Z, without turning therein, but is of such shape in section, preferably square, as shown, as to be turned by said shaft d, the interior of which at each end fits loosely shaft 2'. Upon the lower end of shaft '5 is formed or secured an earth-auger, j, of ordinary well known construction. The upper portion of shaft 71 is graduated and marked to indicate inches, and is also provided with a series of holes, 7c, into which a removable pin, Z, is put. The arrangement of the graduations is such that when a mark reaches the upper surface of timber b the figure on said mark indicates the depth of the hole bored; and the purpose of the holes k and pinl is to facilitate the making of a series of postholes of uniform (No model.)

depth by stopping the further penetration of the auger when said pin comes in contact with timber b.

For the purpose of raising the auger and loosened earth a pulley, an, is suspended from a light frame, a, erected on frame A, and a rope. o, secured to a swivel-eye, p, on the top of shaft i, is passed over pulley m and downward to a flanged pulley, r. Said pulley r is mounted so as to turn loosely on a portion of the bearing B in which shaft 9 is mounted, and is adapted to engage, at the will of the operator, with the back of bevel gear-wheel f by means of a pin, 8, on said gear wheel and acorresponding slotin pulley r,or by any other suitable clutch mechanism. One flange of pulley r is provided with ratchet-teeth which are engaged by a pawl, t.

In operation the frame A is placed so as to stand level, with the anger over the place where the post-hole is to be bored, the auger being held up by rope 0. Pawl t is now withdrawn from pulley r and the auger lowered by turning crank h backward, pulley 1' being engaged with wheel f. Pulley r is now disengaged from wheel f, and the crank having been turned in the opposite direction the auger enters the earth to the required depth, which is determined by pinl coming in contact with beam 1). Pulley r is then re-engaged with wheel f, and the operator continuing to turn the crank in the same direction the auger and loosened earth is raised and is held by pawl 25.

By the use of this machine post-holes may be more rapidly bored than heretofore, and they will be plumb and of uniform depth.

1 claim as my invention- 1. In a post-hole machine, the combination, with the vertical shaft carrying an earth-auger, the frame a, pulley m, and rope 0, of the bearing B, pulley 1", arranged to turn on said bean ing, shaft 9, bevel gear-wheel f, and a clutch mechanism connecting said pulley r and bevel gear wheel f, all substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for boring post-holes, the combination, with the supporting-frame, the hollow shaft mounted in said frame,and means, substantially as shown and described, for turn.- ing said shaft, of the earth-auger and its graduated shaft having a series of holes and a pin,

all substantially-as and forthepurposespecirope o, and pulley r, all arranged to co-operfied. ate substantially as and for the purpose speci 3. In a machine for boring post-holes, the fied. combination, with the supp0rting-frame, the JAMES HAGANS. 5 hollow shaft mounted in said frame, the bevel- Witnesses:

wheels, the crank-shaft, the crank, the 'earth- H. P, HOOD, auger and its shaft, of the frame 11, pulley m, I A. M. HOOD. 

